Comments on: Chicago Snubbed for World Cup Venue Site – 18 Cities Announced

By: Brian Quarstad

Brian Quarstad — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:41:42 +0000

I don’t disagree with that. I have thought it strange since the beginning that you can be naming stadiums for 2022 when there will be new state of the art stadiums in place that are not even built yet. And as you say, if we even get either one. Remember Chicago this summer? We don’t get the games just because we want the games.

By: leper

leper — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:28:41 +0000

I would read very little into this. I would imagine that the final list will vary dramatically from the current list, given that the tournament is either 8 or 12 years away. As has been pointed out elsewhere, there have been something like 8 new NFL size/style stadiums in the last 12 years. While that may not be the case in the next 12 years, chances are some fancy new place(s) will be built that will end up being included, and others that had been included will not.

Despite what the headlines say, I would not take this to be a remotely final list, and would be very, very surprised if at least one and probably more stadiums and cities that aren’t on that list end up hosting games. Always assuming the US is awarded one of the 2 World Cups anyway….

By: Brian Quarstad

Brian Quarstad — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:52:02 +0000

While it’s a decent post Mike and I do agree Sunil seems to be very concerned with the great numbers the US can draw and therefore impress FIFA by making a lot of money for the organization, I don’t believe that its just number. Chicago is too good of a city not to include them just because the size was slightly smaller. Soldier Field has a capacity of 61,500. The next smallest stadium was Indianapolis Lucas Oil Stadium at 66,500. I do think that Sunil was telling the truth. As Pitch Invasion said, sources reported to him that Daily and Chicago sort of dropped the ball. I agree with Tom, I have no doubt that US Soccer would have loved to have Chicago be part of the event.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:36:34 +0000

It’s about venue size, clearly. USSF wants to blow away the world with average attendances of 70,000 plus. But the Chicago decision is regrettable. To exclude one of the best cities in the country and all of those great ethnic neighborhoods is just cruel. http://bit.ly/7Hdvoh

By: Brian Quarstad

Brian Quarstad — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:10:43 +0000

Please read the link for Pitch Invasion at the bottom of the article. I think Tom does a good job of explaining what happened. Some of the comments there are interesting as well.

By: CoconutMonkey

CoconutMonkey — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:06:18 +0000

Olympic Fatigue? I’m not buying it. There must’ve been some serious behind the scenes drama between the Federation and the City for Chicago not to be on the list. Especially when Gulati could frackin walk there from his office!

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=1410+Museum+Campus+Drive,+Chicago,+IL+60605-2902+(Soldier+Field)&daddr=1801+South+Prairie+Avenue,+Chicago,+IL+60616-1356+(U+S+Soccer+Federation)&hl=en&geocode=FXe0fgId4hbH-iEghoj7PaXB1ymnKWtpfCsOiDG2z6wb8Jz77g%3BFVSzfgIddgPH-iE0rjBaLrTgiimhziVRgCwOiDGNO10o04HqBA&mra=mr&dirflg=w&sll=41.858247,-87.615795&sspn=0.01432,0.030556&ie=UTF8&ll=41.860692,-87.61719&spn=0.007159,0.015278&t=h&z=16

Furthermore, as a born and bred Chicagoan, this is some bull$h!t.